- Joined
- Apr 7, 2005
- Messages
- 7,632
- Reaction score
- 1,204
- Location
- London, UK
- Website
- torgoblog.blogspot.com
We're going to merge this one into the OP's existing thread in Self-publishing on a similar topic; it may be locked for a short time.
To clarify, when I wrote "if you know the sales data of other self published authors, please share the links," the links I am referring to are those freely available on the world wide web.
The sales data are shared publicly by the authors themselves with full knowledge that anyone with internet access can view these figures.
For example, MaggieDana shared the link to a page where 625 authors have publicly shared their sales data
http://www.kboards.com/authors/
on another thread at AW. That's the kind of links I was referring to.
or this
http://moirarogers.com/2013/12/the-math-of-quiet-success/
The Math of Quite Success
or this
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303640604579298604044404682
Russell Blake (435,000 sold)
Melissa Foster (400,000 sold)
I guess my question is, what is the point? We know some self-published authors sell a ton of books and that others sell enough to make a nice living, while others sell a bit less, on down to a few sales a month/year.
That doesn't have anything to do with me or my writing -- the only two things I do have ultimate control over.
It's good to be aware that self-published authors are out there, but what does it mean to me if one is making $5 a year or $500,000 a year? I am not them. Why spend my time reading about other people when I could spend my time writing and honing my craft?
Maybe I'm missing something painfully obvious to everyone else.
It's good to be aware that self-published authors are out there, but what does it mean to me if one is making $5 a year or $500,000 a year? I am not them. Why spend my time reading about other people when I could spend my time writing and honing my craft?
Maybe I'm missing something painfully obvious to everyone else.
I'm in this for numbers and sales and not necessarily honing my craft, so my take might be different, or maybe it just makes me a jerk, I dunno.
Really, there's tons to learn from reading/reading about high earners (especially ones that aren't riding on some crazy hit and still make craptons of money). It's fascinating stuff.
I'm in this for numbers and sales and not necessarily honing my craft, so my take might be different, or maybe it just makes me a jerk, I dunno. I spend lots of time studying six-figure mid listers, how they brand, how they promote, how they structure stories, what topics they choose, how they manage and cultivate fan bases, etc.
Really, there's tons to learn from reading/reading about high earners (especially ones that aren't riding on some crazy hit and still make craptons of money). It's fascinating stuff.
I don't think it makes you a jerk. Not at all. It just highlights the different ways writers approach their work. It's all good.
Just be careful when you extrapolate information from the publishing activities of high earners. Not everything they do adds to their high-earning status, and it's easy to assume that if you do A in the same way that they did, it'll lead to B: when really it was their activities around C which brought them back to B.
There are no tricks. There are no easy answers. There is nothing which will transform a book from adequate to great. Just make your books the best you can, in all ways, and publish with thought, creativity and integrity.
I spend lots of time studying six-figure mid listers, how they brand, how they promote, how they structure stories, what topics they choose, how they manage and cultivate fan bases, etc.
Really, there's tons to learn from reading/reading about high earners (especially ones that aren't riding on some crazy hit and still make craptons of money). It's fascinating stuff.
I have to agree with being able to know who to try to model our own business decisions on and having those numbers helps. I'm not sure I agree that chasing the money should take presidence over the craft, which is your implication. I believe the craft will help bring in the money.
shadowwalker said:One other thing to bear in mind is that not everything these high earners do create sales - sometimes they sell in spite of A, or doing B made up for it. Had they not done A at all, their sales might have been higher yet. (I guess that's along the lines of what Old Hack said )
I see nothing wrong in wanting to know what sort of sales other self publishers have. Just so long as they are okay with sharing the information. I don't think wanting to sell copies of your book diminishes your artistic drive.
Each and every one of us who self publishes is at one time both an artist and a small business person. The two roles are not mutually exclusive. Wanting to succeed at the business part of self publishing doesn't mean you aren't also a serious author who cares about their craft.
I've written a great deal of fanfiction. Never received a penny for any of it. Went into it knowing I wouldn't. My only reward was the writing itself, and the pleasure I got from knowing others enjoyed my work. I wrote those stories because I loved writing and I did the best I could with each.
When I write original material for self publishing I want it to sell. I want to make money from my stories. My dream is to be able to make a living at this, whether by self publishing or trade publishing. I have no problem admitting that. I will say it proudly.
Yet when I write I still enjoy it. I still want it to be a great story. Not solely for monetary gain, but because I love writing. Even if I were not to make any sales I would still strive to write the best story I could.
I don't see any contradiction in wanting to write well and also sell well.
I see nothing wrong in wanting to know what sort of sales other self publishers have. Just so long as they are okay with sharing the information. I don't think wanting to sell copies of your book diminishes your artistic drive.
[...]
I don't see any contradiction in wanting to write well and also sell well.
The one thing that surprised me the most in my self-publishing research is that great editing is not all that important for a self-published book. Have stumbled upon several moderately to very successful self-published books in which there were several grammar/ spelling errors. In some on almost every page. It seems that, as long as you have a good voice and/or story, many readers don't care if it's not perfectly edited.
GahHH!!!!!!!!!
"Editing" is not concerned with correcting grammar and spelling errors. Editing deals with structure and plot and flow and characterisation. If your book isn't edited, your book is not likely to have that "good voice and/or story". Copy editing will deal with the spelling and grammar issues that you describe, but that should only happen after several editing passes.
It actually made you that mad that I didn't differentiate between content editing and copy editing...?
Then, to be clear,
I've found moderately successful to very successful in which both suffered equally. I'm not advocating skipping good content and copy editors, but I'm finding that apparently many readers don't care. In my humble opinion, a good voice will remain even if you haven't used a content editor.
It actually made you that mad that I didn't differentiate between content editing and copy editing...?
Then, to be clear, I've found moderately successful to very successful in which both suffered equally.
I'm not advocating skipping good content and copy editors, but I'm finding that apparently many readers don't care. In my humble opinion, a good voice will remain even if you haven't used a content editor.
It actually made you that mad that I didn't differentiate between content editing and copy editing...? Then, to be clear, I've found moderately successful to very successful in which both suffered equally. I'm not advocating skipping good content and copy editors, but I'm finding that apparently many readers don't care. In my humble opinion, a good voice will remain even if you haven't used a content editor.
Success is possible, but I think it should be tempered with realistic expectations.
I just want to hear that success is achievable for more than a lucky handful. In the next few years, I'd like to make a living at this.